Towson University’s Outreach Blog

Jimmy

What do I do as a Systems Engineer at RESI-Information Systems Solutions?

As I reflect upon this question, I can seemingly answer this in two ways: a short answer or a long answer.  The very simple short answer would simply be “IT”, however, I don’t think that answer would make for an interesting blog entry nor would it truly show what kind of work that I do at RESI-ISS.  As a Systems Engineer, I am responsible for quite a number of tasks and activities that impact the day-to-day operations of RESI.

Each day at RESI presents new opportunities and many challenges.  Some days are, well, better than others while most days are usually adventurous.  If there is one thing that I can say that I have learned about my job for the three or so years that I have been here, it is this…

Expect the unexpected!

In IT server and network operations, my daily activities change as events unfold throughout the day.  Surely, I have my usual tasks such as working on projects, provisioning servers, or conducting general maintenance, but sometimes, I have to put on my thinking cap and address critical issues.  If a server fails or the network “goes down,” my technical co-workers and I are usually the first line of defense to diagnose and fix problems.

Source: www.dilbert.com

Sometimes, I am required to perform off-hours maintenance for servers and applications if downtime is needed.  Critical servers and applications cannot be taken down during the day, so nighttime maintenance is the only option.  Surely, it is sometimes tough coming into work between the hours of 10:00 p.m. – 6:00 a.m., but it is a part of the job description and it really isn’t that bad once you get used to it.

This job position is as rewarding and enjoyable as it is challenging.  IT operations require a keen sense of “thinking outside” (I work at Towson University, so I can use that one! J) as well as the ability to diagnose problems quickly and efficiently.  A systems engineer needs to stay sharp by keeping skills up-to-date and staying abreast of new technologies and industry trends.  The landscape of IT changes frequently, so adaptation is the key to finding success in this career.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 19th, 2010 at 2:48 pm and is filed under IT, TU Faculty & Staff. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.